Extinguishing ashtray

ABSTRACT

An ashtray for receiving and extinguishing lighted cigarettes, including a plurality of tubes of diameter slightly larger than the cigarettes to be extinguished. The cigarettes are placed in end to end relation into one end of the tube, the subsequently inserted cigarettes pushing the preceding cigarettes into a receiving container as they are being extinguished within the tube due to lack of sufficient air to supply the fire. The ashtray may also be mountable in a chassis or the like to be concealable or movable out of the way, and in such embodiment may utilize a trough mounted within the receiving container. When a lighted cigarette is placed in the trough and the container moved to a second position, a means for restricting the air supply to the interior of the trough is moved over it to extinguish the cigarette, and as the container is moved from the second position, the extinguished cigarette is expelled from the trough into the receiving container by an appropriate expelling means.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Earl E. Ellertson Albuquerque, N. Mex. [211 App]. No. 40,472 [22] Filed May 22, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 [731 Assignees Eugene Earl Eilertson Utica, Mich. Arnold M. Vie Albuquerque, N. Mex. part interest to each [54] EXTINGUISHING ASHTRAY 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 131/235 R, 131/237 [51] Int. Cl A24f 19/14 [50] Field of Search 131/235, 237, 235 ST, 240 ED, 256

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,237,763 8/1917 Ehalainen 131/235 R 2,171,489 8/1939 Cameron... 131/235 R 2,659,377 11/1953 Fisher 131/235 R Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney-Richard A. Bachand ABSTRACT: An ashtray for receiving and extinguishing lighted cigarettes, including a plurality of tubes of diameter slightly larger than the cigarettes to be extinguished. The cigarettes are placed in end to end relation into one end of the tube, the subsequently inserted cigarettes pushing the preceding cigarettes into a receiving container as they are being extinguished within the tube due to lack of sufficient air to supply the fire.

The ashtray may also be mountable in a chassis or the like to be concealable or movable out of the way, and in such embodiment may utilize a trough mounted within the receiving container. When a lighted cigarette is placed in the trough and the container moved to a second position, a means for restricting the air supply to the interior of the trough is moved over it to extinguish the cigarette, and as the container is moved from the second position, the extinguished cigarette is expelled from the trough into the receiving container by an appropriate expelling means.

PATENTEDNUV 16 I97! SHEEI 1 OF 3 FIG I INVENTOR. EARL E, E ILERTSON ATTORNEY PATENTEDuuv 1s l97| SHEET 2 0F 3 INVENTOR EARL E. EILERTSON by i M gammy A YTUHNFY PATENTEDuuv 1s IBYI SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOH EARL E. EILERTSON ATTORNEY EXTINGUISHING ASH'I'RAY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION more particularly to ashtrays for receiving and extinguishing lighted cigarettes.

2. Description of the Prior Art In general, ashtrays presently widely in use, are designed simply to receive ashes and cigarette butts; commonly, ashtrays usually contain a number of receiving or supporting portions to hold a lighted cigarette in a position which allows its ashes to fall into a receiving portion of the ashtray. With such ashtrays, to extinguish a cigarette, a smoker must crush the fire end of the cigarette into the receiving tray, or into a par ticular protrusion designed as a part of the ashtray for that purpose. Since however, cigarettes are often not completely extinguished by such crushing, they continue to burn, frequently setting other cigarette butts in the ashtray afire, and often continuing to burn to filter portions, which characteristically emit an offensive odor when burned.

Ashtrays have been proposed in which a tube of diameter slightly larger than ordinary cigarettes is provided into which a burning cigarette may be placed. Because of the insufficient air supply within the tube to maintain the fire of the cigarette, and due to heat conduction by the tube material, the cigarette is extinguished. As subsequent lighted cigarettes are placed into the tube, the preceding extinguished cigarettes are pushed through the tube to fall into a conveniently placed receptacle.

In automobiles the problem of partially extinguished cigarettes becomes acute since the atmosphere in the automobile is relatively close, and smoke from a partially extinguished cigarette may be offensive to the occupants of the car. Additionally, in automobiles, if the driver smokes, he may be dangerously distracted when he attempts to extinguish his lighted cigarette. This is especially troublesome if the ashtray is relatively full of cigarette butts, which further complicates an otherwise simple process of crushing a cigarette, and may additionally compound the problem of the offensive smell as described above. Also, especially in automobiles, the ashtrays may contain other flammable materials, such as gum wrappers, cigarette packages, and the like, which may be easily set afire by a partially extinguished cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to present an ashtray which includes means for receiving and extinguishing lighted cigarettes placed thereinto.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ashtray which may be concealed for use in an automobile, airplane, bus, or other such application wherein a concealed ashtray is desirable.

It is a further object of the invention to present a cigarette receiving and extinguishing means which may be used in conjunction with presently existing ashtrays and which may be easily fabricated as a portion thereof.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparentto those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the attached claims and accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the invention an ashtray for extinguishing a lighted cigarette placed therein is presented. The ashtray includes a container adapted to receive cigarettes and cigarette ashes, which carries a plurality of extinguishing tubes. Each tube is of diameter slightly larger than a lighted cigarette to be extinguished, and is disposed to receive cigarettes in end-to-end relation at a first end and to discharge extinguished cigarettes pushed through the tube by subsequently inserted cigarettes, to fall from a second end of the tube into the container. Alternatively, the ashtray may include an extinguishing trough carried by the container of dimensions slightly larger than the lighted cigarettes placed therein. Means for restricting the air supply to the interior of the trough are provided to extinguish the lighted cigarette, and means for expelling the extinguished cigarette are additionally provided to remove the cigarette from the trough into the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the ashtray of the invention, which has been partially cut away to illustrate the interior thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the ashtray of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the ashtray of the invention, which has been partially cut away to expose the interior of the ashtray and to illustrate its mode of operation.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ashtray for use primarily in vehicles or in other applications in which it is desired that the ashtray be concealable or movable to an out-of-the-way position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention for use as a concealable ashtray.

FIG. 6 is another alternative embodiment of an ashtray in accordance with the present invention which may be con cealed.

FIG. 7 is yet another alternative embodiment of an ashtray in accordance with the present invention, which may be concealed in the arm of a chair or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An ashtray in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The ashtray includes an overall dome 10 having a plurality of holes 11 formed therethrough at various locations. At each hole 11 is disposed the open end of a tube or cylinder 12 of diameter slightly larger than an ordinary cigarette extending inwardly to communicate with a means for receiving cigarette butts 13. The tubes 12 may be glued, welded, soldered, or otherwise affixed to the holes 11, at a flared portion 16, as illustrated. The means for receiving the cigarette butts 13 may include a cap 14, through which tubes 12 may extend, removably attached to a receiving portion 15. The receiving portion 15 may be a jar or other container which may conveniently be attached by threads or the like to the cap l4.

The dome 10 may also include a plurality of openings 17 therethrough, closable by doors 18 hingedly attached to the dome 10. The doors 18 may be biased outwardly to maintain a normally closed position, illustrated, by means of springs or other biasing means (not shown).

In operation, the dome 10 may conveniently be disposed on a pedestal (not shown) at a height of between about 2 to 4 feet. A lighted cigarette, after used, may be inserted into a tube 12, perhaps guided thereinto by the flared portion 16. Because of the lack of air and the conduction properties of the tubes 12, cigarettes inserted thereinto are extinguished in just a few seconds. As subsequent cigarettes are inserted into the tubes 12, the preceding cigarettes are forced through the tubes 12 into the receiving means 13, there to be contained until the receiving jar 15 is emptied. Flammable cigarette packages, gum wrappers, and other flammable material may be expediently disposed of by simply pushing the material through one of the doors 18 to fall into the pedestal or basis upon which the dome I0 is disposed.

The materials of which the various parts of the ashtray may be constructed are not critical, but, of course, should be substantially nonflammable. Because the ashtray of the invention causes cigarettes placed thereinto to be extinguished in a matter of seconds, the materials used in the fabrication of the various parts need not be absolutely fire or heat resistant. For

example, in the illustrated ashtray of FIG. 1, the various parts, except the extinguishing tubes 12 may conveniently be moulded, cast, sculptured, or otherwise formed of plastic, rubber, clay, or other formable material. Although not illustrated, it is understood that tubes 12 may be of various diameters to accommodate cigars and the like.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein a receiving and extinguishing tube 20 is carried by a receiving container 21. The receiving-extinguishing tube 20, of any substantially nonflarnmable material, may have flared open end portions 22 for receiving lighted cigarettes. The center portion of the receiving tube 20 may be partially cut away to form an opening 23 over the receiving container 21 to allow the extinguished cigarette butts traversing the receiving tube 20 to fall into the receiving container 21. Additionally, a commonly used cigarette carrying bracket 24 may be included on the receiving tube 20 to hold the burning cigarettes and to allow the ashes therefrom to fall into the receiving container 21.

Like the receiving tubes of FIG. 1, the receiving tube 20 is intended to receive cigarette butts in end-to-end relationship, the subsequent cigarette butts inserted into an end 22 of the receiving tube 20 pushing the extinguished cigarette butts along the length of the tube through the opening 23 to fall into the receiving container 21.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 in which a plurality of cigarette receiving tubes 30 are formed into a cover 31 carried by a receiving container 32. The cigarette receiving tubes 30 may be commonly joined to dome 33 within the cover 31. Dome 33 may be of hemispherical shape, as shown, to assist in forcing the cigarettes expelled from the receiving tubes 30 into the receiving container 32. Additionally, an ash-receiver tray 34 may be carried by the cover 31, and, if desired, may include a number of cigarette holders (not shown) to maintain and receive burning cigarettes and to allow the ashes therefrom to fall into the tray 34.

Once again, in operation, cigarette butts are inserted into the receiving tubes 30 at the open ends 35, and are extinguished rapidly within the receiving tubes 30 by lack of air and by conduction of the heat by the receiving tubes 30. As subsequent cigarette butts are inserted into the open end 35 of the receiving tube 30 the preceding cigarettes are forced down through the tube and into the receiving container 32.

For use in vehicles or other instances in which a concealable ashtray is desired, the ashtray may be arranged as illustrated in FIG. 4. The ashtray of FIG. 4 includes a mounting bracket 40 which may be affixed by bolts, screws, or other means to a dashboard or panel having sufficient space behind it to receive the body of the ashtray. The ashtray itself may include a receiving assembly 41 slidably mounted in the mounting bracket 40. Affixed to an interior wall of the assembly 41 is an open-ended U-shaped trough 42, disposed to fit snugly against the top of the mounting bracket 40 when the assembly 41 is in a concealed position within mounting bracket 40. At one end of the U-shaped trough 42 is a partition 43 dividing the U- shaped trough 42 into two portions 44 and 45. Affixed to the top portion of the mounting bracket 40 and under which the U-shaped trough 42 slides is a hinged lever 47 which extends downwardly the approximate length of the U-shaped trough and which is easily moved through a slot in the partition 43. The lever 47 is free to swing in a direction into the mounting bracket 40, but is restrained to swing in an outward direction by a hinge-leaf portion 46 mounted on the mounting bracket 40.

In operation, a lighted cigarette is placed in one portion 44 of U-shaped trough 42, and the entire receiving assembly 41 moved into the receiving bracket 40. Because of the U-shaped trough 42 fits snugly against the top of the receiving bracket 40, there is insufficient air for the cigarette to continue buming, and the cigarette is extinguished. When the receiving container 41 is moved out to the open position illustrated, the lever 46 slides the cigarette contained in the U-shaped trough 42 out through the open end, thereby allowing it to fall into the container 41.

Another embodiment of the concealable ashtray of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. A receiving container 50 is slidably mounted on brackets 51 and 52, which may be contained behind the dashboard of an automobile, airplane, or the like 53. A U-shaped trough 54 may be rotatably mounted across the width of the receiving chamber 50 by pins 55. In the closed or concealed position, a cover 56 is provided, disposed directly over the trough 54 substantially isolating the trough 54 from the surrounding air. At one end of the trough 54 is an extension of protrusion 57 in line with lever 58, hingedly attached to the panel 53. Lever 58 is disposed to be free to swing inwardly as the protrusion 57 is passed thereby as the receiving container 50 is moved to the closed position. The lever 58, however, is restrained from swinging outwardly as the receiving container 50 is moved to the open position; thus, the protrusion 57 engages lever 58 and the trough 54 is caused to revolve.

Thus, when a lighted cigarette is placed in a receiving trough 54, and the ashtray container 50 is moved to a closed position the cigarette is extinguished under the cover 56. When the ashtray is then pulled out of the panel 53, the lever 58 comes into engagement with the protrusion 57 and the trough 54 rotated, thereby expelling the extinguished cigarette.

A third embodiment of the concealed ashtray of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 in which a mounting bracket 60 contains a receiving container 62 slidably mounted therein. A U-shaped trough 63 is rotatably mounted within the container 62 by pins 64, rotating along an axis parallel to the direction that container 62 slides into and out of mounting bracket 60. About the outside of the trough 63 is a worm gear of screw pitch protrusion 65 which is engaged at the closed position by L-shaped lever 66. Mounted along the top of mounting bracket 60 is a second U-shaped member 67 which substantially covers the trough 63 in the closed position.

Thus, in operation, when a lighted cigarette is placed in the U-shaped trough 63 and the container 62 moved to a closed position within the mounting bracket 60, the U-shaped member 67 in conjunction with the trough 63 cuts off the air supply to the cigarette, thereby extinguishing it. As the ashtray container 62 is moved to the open position illustrated, L- shaped lever 66 engages the worm gear protrusion 65, rotating the trough and expelling the cigarette from the trough 63 into the receiving container 62.

Another embodiment of the concealable ashtray of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7, designed for use in the arm of a chair, such as on an airplane-type chair or other similar-type chair. The receiving chamber 70 has rotatably mounted therein a U-shaped trough 71, mounted by rotating pins 72, having at one end a protrusion or extension 73. The cover portion of the container 70 has attached to it a cane-shaped catch lever which rides on a guide along one side of the container 70.

Thus, in operation, a cigarette is placed in the receiving trough 71 and the top portion 76 of the container 70 is closed. The top portion 76, together with the trough 71 cutoff the air to the cigarette, thereby causing it to become extinguished. When the top cover 70 is opened, cane lever 74 engages protrusion 73, thus causing the trough 71 to rotate and expel the contained extinguished cigarette into the container 70.

Although not illustrated, the invention as depicted in FIGS. 4-7 is particularly suitable to adaptation to a removable frame insertable into the class of ashtrays illustrated. Thus, for example, the rotatable troughs of FIGS. 5-7 may be mounted on a frame of size appropriate to be inserted into the receiving container, and may also include a clip or other means for fastening the frame within the ash-receiving container. The lever to actuate rotation of the trough may additionally be made to be easily installable by a preassembly of the lever mechanism requiring simple fastening means such as metal screws or the like. Likewise, the fixed trough of FIG. 4 and its respective actuating lever may be prefabricated into an easily installable frame and lever mechanism. The advantage, of course, in the prefabrication of the respective parts in easily installable packages is that preexisting ashtrays may be easily and simply modified to include the extinguishing device of the invention without requiring separate machining and other modifications of preexisting parts.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An ashtray for extinguishing a lighted cigarette placed therein comprising: a cigaretteand ash-receiving container, a trough rotatably mounted on said container and having dimensions slightly larger than the lighted cigarette, means disposable over said trough for restricting the air supply to the interior of said trough to extinguish the lighted cigarette placed therein, and means for rotating said trough for expelling the extinguished cigarette from said trough into said container.

2. The ashtray of claim 1 wherein said means for restricting the air supply to the interior of said trough is a mount including a cover for said trough, said mount carrying said container,

allowing said container to be slidably moved between a first position at which said trough is open to receive the lighted cigarette and a second position at which said cover is disposed over said trough thereby restricting the air supply to the interior thereof.

3. The ashtray of claim 2 wherein said cover is a portion of said mount.

' fixed to said mount.

5. The ashtray of claim 2 further comprising means to rotate said trough as said container is moved between said second and first positions to expel the extinguished cigarette to said container.

6. The ashtray of claim 5 wherein said means to rotate said trough comprises: a protrusion on said trough and a lever carried by said mount disposed to engage said protrusion when said container is moved between said second and first positions.=

7. The ashtray of claim 6 wherein said trough is mounted perpendicularly to the direction said container slides, said protrusion extends outwardly from an end of said trough, and said lever is hinged to said mount to be movable to only one direction by said protrusion.

8. The ashtray of claim 6 wherein said trough is mounted parallel to the direction said container slides, and said protrusion extends along the length of said trough with a screw pitch.

9. The ashtray of claim 1 wherein said means to restrict the air supply to the interior of said trough is a cover hingedly attached to said container to define an open position at which said trough is open to receive the lighted cigarette and a closed position at which said cover covers said trough thereby restricting the airflow thereto to extinguish the cigarette.

10. The ashtray of claim 9 wherein said means for expelling said cigarettes is a means for rotating said trough.

11. The ashtray of claim 10 wherein said means for rotating said trough comprises a protrusion on one end of said trough, a lever carried by said cover to engage said protrusion as said cover is moved from said closed to said open position.

i I! I i i 

1. An ashtray for extinguishing a lighted cigarette placed therein comprising: a cigarette- and ash-receiving container, a trough rotatably mounted on said container and having dimensions slightly larger than the lighted cigarette, means disposable over said trough for restricting the air supply to the interior of said trough to extinguish the lighted cigarette placed therein, and means for rotating said trough for expelling the extinguished cigarette from said trough into said container.
 2. The ashtray of claim 1 wherein said means for restricting the air supply to the interior of said trough is a mount including a cover for said trough, said mount carrying said container, allowing said container to be slidably moved between a first position at which said trough is open to receive the lighted cigarette and a second position at which said cover is disposed over said trough thereby restricting the air supply to the interior thereof.
 3. The ashtray of claim 2 wherein said cover is a portion of said mount.
 4. The ashtray of claim 2 wherein said cover is a plate affixed to said mount.
 5. The ashtray of claim 2 further comprising means to rotate said trough as said container is moved between said second and first positions to expel the extinguished cigarette to said container.
 6. ThE ashtray of claim 5 wherein said means to rotate said trough comprises: a protrusion on said trough and a lever carried by said mount disposed to engage said protrusion when said container is moved between said second and first positions.
 7. The ashtray of claim 6 wherein said trough is mounted perpendicularly to the direction said container slides, said protrusion extends outwardly from an end of said trough, and said lever is hinged to said mount to be movable to only one direction by said protrusion.
 8. The ashtray of claim 6 wherein said trough is mounted parallel to the direction said container slides, and said protrusion extends along the length of said trough with a screw pitch.
 9. The ashtray of claim 1 wherein said means to restrict the air supply to the interior of said trough is a cover hingedly attached to said container to define an open position at which said trough is open to receive the lighted cigarette and a closed position at which said cover covers said trough thereby restricting the airflow thereto to extinguish the cigarette.
 10. The ashtray of claim 9 wherein said means for expelling said cigarettes is a means for rotating said trough.
 11. The ashtray of claim 10 wherein said means for rotating said trough comprises a protrusion on one end of said trough, a lever carried by said cover to engage said protrusion as said cover is moved from said closed to said open position. 